mine disaster (mine accident, mine incident, mine fatalities)

In 2023, 16 miners died in incidents caused by a malfunction, improperly maintained or damaged machinery. Learn about best practices to keep miners safe.

At mine sites, dams are essential infrastructure that provides flood control, store water for mine use, and control runoff. But dams can also pose significant danger to people working near them if they fail.

At 6 a.m. on Friday, June 3, 2016, 56-year-old James “Dee” Hemphill and 24-year-old Emmitt Shorter went to work at Harmony Mine and Mill in Mississippi. Both men were working together to excavate material from the Johnson Pit and transport it to the on-site plant or waste dump.

Following the deaths of three miners, we’re urging all mine workers to follow electrical safety best practices.

Drawing on lessons from the Sago and Aracoma mine disasters, the MINER Act helped improve emergency response at mines across the country.

As a third-generation miner, Nicholas Gutierrez understands the unique challenges — and rewards — associated with working in the mining industry.